NOTE: Some rudimentary knowledge
of the
HERO System rules is necessary to
understand this conversion document.

The following links are to Magic System
documents that model various D&D 3e
Magic Systems in HERO System mechanics.

VANCIAN MAGIC: All D&D Magic is
basically "Vancian", which is
to say largely modeled upon the Magic System
used in Jack Vance's Dying Earth series
of books and characterized by conceptually
fitting Spells into mental slots, being
able to cast each Spell once per slot it
filled, and Spells having a certain "fire
and forget" aspect of being either
instant or self-maintaining. This document
explains some high level concepts common
to the Vancian Magic Systems presented on
this web site.

Prepared Casting: Most Vancian Magic
in D&D is of the Prepared variety, where
Spellcasters have to spend some amount of
time choosing their Spells and allocating
their Spell slots for the day. This document
explains some high level concepts common
to the Prepared Casting Magic Systems presented
on this web site.

Wizardry: This document presents a conversion
of the D&D Wizard and Specialist
Wizard Magic System.

Dominine: This document presents
a conversion of the D&D Cleric
Magic System. This system could also be
used for Paladins by allowing a Paladin
access to Domains, but for those that do
not which to diverge from the D&D model
a specific conversion of the Paladin Magic
style is presented in the Paladin Class
Conversion document.

Animine: This document presents
a conversion of the D&D Druid
Magic System. It is also usable as is for
Rangers (conversions are provided
for both Spell sets).

Spontaneous Casting: The Spontaneous
variety of Magic was introduced in D&D
3e, where Spellcasters know a set list of
Spells per Spell Level but rather than having
to Prepare which they have available ahead
of time they can instead cast whatever Spell
they know up to their limit for that Spell
Level per day. This document explains some
high level concepts common to the Spontaneous
Casting Magic Systems presented on this
web site.

Sorcery: This document presents a conversion
of the D&D Sorcerer Magic System.
It is also usable for Bards (conversions
are provided for both Spell lists)

VARIANTS

A broad number of variant Magic Systems
using the same basic Vancian models are
also provided on this web site. You may
find some of them intriguing and decide
to incorporate them into your campaign.

Gestalt Casting: This variant is a hybrid
of the Prepared and Spontaneous schemes
of Magic use. It uses a Variable Power Pool
like Prepared Casting, but allows a practitioner
to switch in Spells from their Known Spell
List, thus allowing them to cast in a manner
more like Spontaneous Casting. Thus it effectively
has the strengths of both Magic Systems,
and neither of their weaknesses. On the
other hand, it costs more character points
to advance in, and thus Spell Progression
is slower.

Arcanis Magnicus: This Magic System
is a parallel to Wizardry and Sorcery and
is essentially the archetypical Gestalt
model.

Elementalism: This is more of a
"Meta" Magic System, that is essentially
the concept of Magic aligned along the four
classic Elements of Earth Air Fire Water.
It can be used in conjunction with the Gestalt
Casting method.

Stregari: Stregari is, similar to
Elementalism, more of a "Meta"
concept which is usable with any of the
Vancian Casting models. It embodies much
more of a Witchcraft or Hedge style of Magic.

Sortilege: Another "Meta"
concept usable with all of the Vancian Casting
models, Sortilege is designed around the
use of Interaction Skills and Spells that
are thematically appropriate to each one.
It is in some ways like a hyper-specialized
Bardic approach to Magic.

Dominine: The Dominine Magic System
is assumed to use the Prepared Casting model
by default, but it can also use the Gestalt
Casting model without issue.

Animine: The Animine Magic System
is assumed to use the Prepared Casting model
by default, but it can also use the Gestalt
Casting model without issue.

Elementalism: Elementalism can also
be used with the Spontaneous Casting Model
(which is Killer Shrike's preferred option).

Stregari:Stregari
can also be used with the Spontaneous Casting
Model.

Sortilege: Sortilegecan
also be used with the Spontaneous Casting
Model (which is Killer Shrike's preferred
option).

OTHER MAGIC SYSTEMS

A plethora of other non-D&D style Magic
Systems are also provided on this web site.
The
Magic System Adviser document compares
the attributes of each broad style of Magic
against one another, and has links to each
individual System at the bottom.